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Hawaii or Puerto Rico?
My parents want to take my sisters and our SOs on a trip at the end of June. The budget is essentially unlimited, but our time is limited to no more than 7 days. Due to that, we want to minimize time spent flying. We seem to have narrowed it down to Hawaii or Puerto Rico. Because there are 7 of us, we're looking for a destination that has something for everyone: history/culture, city life, and outdoor adventures.TIA
What do you think of our choices?
What recommendations do you have for either location?
Re: Hawaii or Puerto Rico?
I have only been to Hawaii so I can't comment on PR. But from what you've listed, it sounds like you might enjoy Oahu. There's Pearl Harbor and the Polynesian Cultural Center for those more interested in history/culture. I also recommended Oahu since you wanted city life. If you stay in Waikiki or visit there, it's basically like the downtown area of a big city on the mainland with lots of upscale stores, restaurants, and hotels. But there are plenty of outdoor things to do like surf, snorkel, scuba, parasail, hike Diamond Head, take a submarine tour, the list goes on and on.
We had a great time when we went. I would recommend visiting the North Shore if you go and not just staying in Waikiki. The beaches up there are less crowded (well in the surfing off season) than Waikiki and were just gorgeous! There were also some cute small towns, a much different vibe than Waikiki.
I lived in Puerto Rico for two years, and I visited Honolulu for a week on vacation. I think PR is more interesting, from a historical and cultural perspective, than Honolulu. Puerto Ricans speak a different language, for starters. There is gorgeous Spanish architecture in Old San Juan. I think it dates from the 15th century. El Morro is a famous historical fort in San Juan. There are lots of bars, restaurants, clubs, and a casino in San Juan. In terms of outdoor adventures, Puerto Rico has the El Yunque rainforest and the bioluminescent bays. Puerto Rico can get pretty humid, so that's something to keep in mind.
Pearl Harbor is an interesting historical sight in Hawaii, and of course there are lots of outdoor activities there. Both Puerto Rico and Hawaii are beautiful places to visit.
Hawaii - Dont miss out on an opportunity to take a trip of a life time. When leaving take the earliest flight to Hawaii and when coming home take the latest flight back to the mainland (it will be a redeye no matter what) this way you dont lose a day on either end - you can still have 6-7 full days.
I would go to the Big Island, thats where the active volcano is. Visit Volcano's National Park and then drive to the viewing area.
There are black, green and red sand beaches and snow on top of Mauna Kea.
You can also go to Kona or Hilo (both smallish cities). Theres a ton of outdoor activities to do and the landscape and scenery is like NOTHING you will ever see any where else again. There are beautiful beaches (A Bay and Hapuna were beautiful) and the north Kohala coast is amazing.
Lots to do!
Hawaii hands down 100%
PR was not so great imo
Maybe it's b/c I live in Honolulu, but I'd go for PR. There are a lot of similarities, in that you have swimming and hiking, but PR has Old San Juan which I love There's just something so great about wandering a town of buildings that are hundreds of years old. Plus, the food, at least compared to Oahu, in PR is so much better. Maui does have better food than Oahu IME. Mmmm, mallorcas and cafe con leche.
Either way, I think you'll have a wonderful time. I like living in Honolulu, for sure, but not b/c of the Pearl Harbour and PCC stuff. That's good for a day on layover, but nothing more.
Never been to PR, so can't comment, but Hawaii is my absolute favorite place on earth (that I've been to anyway!) so I would choose Hawaii any day. I would probably stay on one island though since you'll be there for just a week.
I;ve been to both and whatever you pick, you can't go wrong. However - with an unlimited budget I'd do Hawaii, which is considerably more expensive and save PR for when you're paying
Any of the Hawaiian islands (i've done Kauai, Maui and Oahu) will have something for everyone.
This is exactly what I was thinking.
I think you'll have a great time no matter which location you choose.
I've been to HI (Oahu, Maui, and the BI -and going to Kauai in March) and I've been to PR. They both have a lot of the same things to offer, and a lot of unique things to offer, so it really depends on the specifics of what you want to do. They also both have a much different vibe to them.
I honestly can't give you an opinion because I really like both locations and I'd go back to both places in a heartbeat.
I've been to both (I used to live on Oahu), and I'll give you something to consider. Have you traveled with the entire group before? Are they decisive planners, or are they more the type to say "I don't care, I'll do what everyone else wants to do"? Because you're going to have so many options with Hawaii, both planning where to go and what to do once you're there, it might be easier to do PR. There's still plenty to do there, but it's not quite as much. However, if you all have different ideas about what you want out of the trip and aren't set on spending every minute with each other, Hawaii could be good.
Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.
Mark Twain
My Travel Blog
I've been to both - and bother were great...Hawaii though was by far my favorite (I've been twice). Based on your description of what you were looking for, Puerto Rico does sound like a great fit for you. Old San Juan is chock full of history and culture and there is also the rain forest for being outdoorsy.
In Hawaii...I think Oahu would be the most "city"-ish of the islands...but Honolulu was my least favorite...I preferred Big Island, Maui and Kuaui so much more - but they lack any feeling of a city.
Been to both. If someone's getting the bill, then go to HI, it's by far the more expensive of the two.
History wise, PR has way more historical activities.
Otherwise, nature, hiking, beaches, food, etc, I find they both are on par in that they both have interesting options for either.
Thank you so much for all the replies. You've confirmed my hunches that both would be great, by HI may be a nice treat.
Here's the wrench: the family vacation is June 23-30 and my H and I have to be in VA on the 30th for a wedding. That's a LONG trip. Do we cut the family vacation a day short and go home (CO) for a day to recuperate and then go to VA?
Hmm, that's tough, but I probably would just fly straight to Virginia and skip going home for just one day. If you go home you'll just have to go right back to the airport in the morning and to me that would be a drag. If you fly straight to VA you can get a hotel room and be relaxing until the wedding, instead of having to worry about making another flight. JMO.
Hmm. Any chance you can make the family trip a few days earlier?
I wouldn't cut a day short in hawaii, you need all the time you can get. I honestly wouldn't do Hawaii with less than a week (travelling from the East coast).